The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-11-26
A DISASTROUS FIRE
AT ST. cLA1nsv1LLE YESTERDAY,
Tho Chronicle Printing Once, n Grocer,
Store and Several Dwelling Houses
Burned-A Difference OF Opinion
about the Origin OF tho Flames,

ST. CLAlnsvILLR. ONO, Nov. ga mos
destructive fro broke out here this morn
ing about 8 o'clock. II was first discovered
In the rear end Of the Chronicle Office, anc
James Oaborne'a store room. An alarm
was sounded by the watchman at the
Southern Railroad blowing the engine
whiatle. 1t had scarcely sounded before
the Inhabitants OF the town we're out upor
the etreet trying to locate the fire, which
was soon found to bo in tho Chronicle
building. 4-, :
The building was large frame, three
atories back and two In front. A Atwo.atory
frame Immediately east ndjoins it, cccu'
pied on first floor by James Osborne'4
grocery, and second story by Henry
Thompson, tenant. East, and adjoining
this building, is the residence OF Benjamin
Dickey on level Of stree., and bssemen,
by George Greon, tenant. One room on
first floor was occupied by Charles Riley q
ehoeshop. Within few feet east OF the
Dlckey residencs Is the residence OF the
Miasee Close-a fine, large franc.
All OF tho above.naued houses were
entirely consumed, with most Of the con.
tents.
At tho Chronicle building W. A. Hunt
Lost everything, but his books arc in tho
SAFE, which has not been opened, and,
Of courae, We are unable to say in what
condition they are. Nothing was saved
here but single bundle OF Paper. The
n1ooke was go donse that 1t was impossible
to remove the safe from the building, al.
though Ii stood but five fact from the door.
His loss will be about $500, and II the
books sru destroyed In the safe, SO, 500 will
be a reasonable estimate OF his loss, In.
surance, American Fire, 81 900; Columbl.
ana, 81 ,0CO.
James Qsborne's grocery was entirely
lost, booka and all, and his loes will foot
up s. 900, with an insurance Of $500 in tho
CITY Insurance Company, Pittsburgh.
Benjamin DicSey, who owns the block
occupied by Osborne, Riley, Green and
Thompson, as above, loses all, including
household goods. He was absent from
home, and bio totsl loas cannot be learned.
He held $4,000 in tho German, Of Free
port, on the building and 5000 on contents.
Charles Riley, Henry Thompson and
George Green, tenants Of the Dickey pro-
perty, loss all their household goods.
The Chronicle building, owned by Joel
Nicholu, is total loas, the insuran CO
runnirgous last January. The building
and coatente Rboye the Chronicle are esti.
mated at $1,000.
The Close building was insured for
$1,000 in the franklin; $1,000 in the
American and $500 on contents: all Of
Wheeling. I. W. Emerson, who occupies
a room in this houae, lcst everything he
had; insurance 5000 in the Ampxon, Gin.
cinnati.
The fro spread rapidly, AID at one time
the fesicerces OF Joe King, Mrs. Zimmer.
man and Charles Collins, on the opposite
side OF the street, were in danger, but the
|tirs.fghters with buckets OF water and
salI saved thone hoSses from the fiery
tongue.
Au it Tapped up the Close reaidonce, all
attention was directed to the large brick
block occupiad by Dr. ]. E. West, Auditor
Barrettand Mrs. Bswley. At this building
the flames were stopped, but not without
q grsat deal OF damsgo to the property
and contents. DR.. Vests property was
insured for 81 800, and his loss will be
about $500 Barrett will lose on goods
about $3.50 by damage; James McMonies,
owner, Sl0O. Mrs. Be wley's loes is slight.
The origin Of the fire 10 unknown. The
theory by some is held out that it was the
wors OF an incendiary, but we are not OF
that belief. II was undoubtedly an &C.
cident or defective lus-possibly in the
room above the Chronicle, where the Re.
publican headquarters we're, or in the
Dickey building. We arc at losa to
know why anyone should set it on FIRE,
hence We claim the fire was not OF On in
ceDdiary origin.
Tho Chronicle will Issue as usual next
week, having arranged with the Ga.eiie for
that purpose, and ss soon as proper ar
raneements can be made. new outfit
will be- put in and work resumed as usual.
Supposed Incsndlnrisn ne WellsvIlle,
WELLsyILLE, o., Nov. 25.-Last night
an uely specimnn of hnmpnitv in tba ,orh